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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. can — to be able to
  3. spell — a short time
  4. stock — shares
  5. bear — the animal
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. date — the fruit
  8. stock — goods
  9. bear — the animal
  10. track — a path
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — a tin
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. spell — magic
  15. spell — letters
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. track — to keep track
  18. season — in sport
  19. track — a song
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. season — of the year
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. season — to add flavour

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com